Here Comes The Weekend

Here Comes The Weekend

This past Monday was my wedding anniversary.  The wonderful 3-day event took place at a cross-country ski lodge in Killington VT that resurrects itself in the summer to accommodate weddings.  The idea of a weekend destination wedding was born when I attended one myself.  It took place in September of 2000 at “The End”...Montauk.

We had a tight knit group in the IT department at North Shore.  One of our own was getting married, and we would all be invited.  The 3-day event would take place at The Crow’s Nest in Montauk.  There would be no room at the Inn for us, since it would be filled with the immediate family.  We found a quaint Bed and Breakfast along Route 27 just across from the beach and booked all the rooms.

We were invited for the Friday night rehearsal dinner but the gang decided to arrive Saturday morning.  We would meet at the B&B and then head over to “The Nest”.  We had more girls than boys, as some significant others were unable to attend.  This caused the B&B to buzz with prom-like preparedness.  My girlfriend and I would arrive at the restaurant before the others.  We were escorted around back to a huge white tent residing on the shore of Lake Montauk.   We followed the crowd past the tent to the lakeside rows of chairs and the garden arbor dotted with roses.  We took our seats as more guests arrived.  A few of our crew were still missing.  It was two of the girls who’s primping ran past departure time.  They arrived as the wedding party was coming down the aisle.  Oblivious to this, they darted down the same path.  Onlookers must have thought they were part of the act.

Dueling “I Do”s and it was time for the cocktail hour.  Usually I fill up on the hors d’oeuvres, as the main meal never lives up to the billing.  However I was previously informed of the bounty before us.  It would be unlimited lobster.  I would indulge in a cornucopia of the crustaceans that they almost became an endangered species.  The reception was only one of the many acts of this Taming of the Shrew.  There would be a beach BBQ and bonfire later that evening.  We returned to the B&B to relax and recoup.  We arrived as a soused sort.  We invaded the dwelling like drunken sailors.  At that point we would discover we did not rent out ALL of the rooms.  An unfortunate couple had booked along with us.  Their peaceful retreat was penetrated by our raucous return.  We promised them they would be left in silence soon.  We would be heading back to the party.

Where the wedding once stood a bon fire now burned.  The chairs turned to circle the flames.  I took a familiar spot near the grill master.  My girlfriend, tired from the long day, rested upon a fireside chair and fell asleep.  We got along better that way.   I inquired to the cook about the evening’s fare.  I was impressed.  Besides the basic burgers were a sampling of swordfish and Mako.  My narcoleptic companion gave me amble opportunity to mingle.  Hey, our days together were already numbered anyway.  As the grilling subsided the staff joined in with the imbibing.  There were several single female staff and I did my best to interview for an opening position.

Our group now gathered around the fire.  My date did not stir…maybe I should have checked for a pulse.  She could sleep through an apocalypse…and once actually did.  The backyard of her house sat upon a well-travelled winding road.  It was about 2am when I awoke to the exploding sound of crunching metal.  The long backyard loomed larger in the darkness.  I could not see what caused the disturbance until I saw the flames.  I dialed 911.  I threw on some clothes to head through the pitch black back to the fire in the distance.  I could hear the sirens quickly approaching.  They arrived before I did, so I headed back to the house.  The car crash was less than 200 ft from the bedroom.  She didn’t even roll over.

A simple party stood no chance of waking her.  We had taken a spot opposite her anyway.  I kept an eye out just to make sure the ambers did not set her ablaze.  We were on the edge of a dune that dropped off to the beach.  As I was regaling the females with a few stories (I have a few of them, huh?) I took a step back.  Only there was no BACK.  I tumbled down the dune to the beach below.  I dropped off in mid sentence.  I was startled, but after a few seconds I was in full laughter.  This let everyone know I was all right.  Once they realized what had happened, one of the female staff made her way down the incline.  She arrived and helped me dust off my collection of sand.  We had a moment.

The bon fire dwindled and it was time to retire.  I was able to awaken Miss Van Winkle enough to get her to the car.  When we arrived at the B&B she headed up to the room to continue her slumber.  It was past 3am but I was not the least bit tired.  I could hear the rumbling of the surf and decided this would be my destination.  Bathing suit on and towel in hand I headed off.  The moon provided enough light to guide me through the brush covered dunes.  I took a quick dip in the ocean while mimicking the Jaws “da nuh, da nuh” music.  I dried off and laid the towel down to protect myself from the sand.  I was sans a partner to help dust me off.

As I lay on the towel I looked out over the water.  The silver-ish moon cast its glow upon the surf.  It reminded me of years ago after my prom.  My girlfriend at the time and I spent the next morning the same way.  It was a romantic setting with someone I cared for.  Now I sat there by myself.  I realized, that even if my current girlfriend were with me now, I would still be alone.  And that was the problem.

Only a few short years later I would be planning my own wedding.  Christina and I would visit The Crow’s Nest to see if it were an option.  The years were not kind to the venue plus the Town of Southampton had limited their events.  We would pass.  I did some research online and discovered Mountain Meadows in Killington, VT.  Upon our trip there Christina fell in love with the place.  She had prepared a preponderance of questions for the proprietor.  They must have all been answered appropriately.  We left a deposit before we departed.

Christina did not fall asleep at the wheel.